so ....who's been watching all the fantastic shows LIVE from the CHA over on Create and Craft?? Meeee! oh my days did you see the amazing Spectrum Aquas launched today at 3pm from Crafters Companion? they were pardon the pun "Awesome"!!

Tomorrow ...the 12th at 3pm sees the amazinglytalentedjawdroppingsensation that is ...the one...and only Sheena Douglass! grace our screens over on Create and Craft live from the CHA with her stunning BRAND NEW dies and stamps. I shared 3 of the DT samples on Friday...today I will share the rest! so without further of my wafflings..here we go...

For this card I have used my beautiful Aquatints, firstly I used the apple stamps and using a masking tecnique I stamped 3 together on the bottom right. Then covered the images with Pebeo drawing gum, once dry I then took a large flat wash brush and created a beautiful blended backgound with my Aquatints. I then stamped and die cut the branch...a single apple and 4 leaves from Sheena's new range. Coloured them up then placed my branch into posistion, popped some collall 3D glue gel behind my "hanging" apple then curled the 4 leaves and glued into place on my card. I then popped the sentiment...also included in the branch stamp set into place!

next up I have used a tree landscape stamp that I have stamped twice, the top image is the actual whole stamp, but then I stamped the image a little lower to the right, and made the slopping hill with a fine line black pen. I then masked up with Pebeo drawing gum, coloured up my sky making a few clouds, rubbed out the drawing gum and coloured my fields. Stamped the kite stamp a couple of times and decoupaged it up to make it 3D, and then stamped and die cut the fence and Daisy border . Now...after i had finished my card and was very happy with it I popped my sentiment into place hen....OMG the sentiment didn't stamp properly..oops! my fault, so i just filled in the bits with my black pen!

now for something a little different, a diorama card. This set of 3 landscape stamps to build a scene I thought would work perfectly as this type of card. You really need to hold the card and peep into the aperture to appreciate it I think. I made a base from CC Pearl card stock making an aperture using one of Sheena's new dies, then created concertina sides, so I could attach my 3 layers. the back being the hills stamp for my view, creating some moody clouds, second layer is the closer hillside and tree and lastly in the foreground the grassy verge stamp. I then stamped and die cut Sheena's new large tree and popped on the front with a lovely sentiment. I had this card perched on my shelf for a few days and I have to say it was lovely to look inside and see the view!

here's a close up! of how lovely the tree looks cut on the front casting a lovely shadow.

for this one , again I have stamped and die cut the branch set and the leaves that come with it, coloured up and set to one side to dry. I have then stamped out the cutest hanging candle lantern, this stamp doesn't come with a die but its so easy to cut out to make 3D...so that's what I did :)

Then using my Aquatints I created a background and after deciding where my lanterns were going to be , I simply used my water brush and my aquatints to create a sort of haze where I thought my light would be around the candles, then using a new die set -hedgerow corner I die cut two corners and popped into place.

now for a SPLASH of colour!

I Loved this one!! First off I took an 8 x 8 card base and using a lovely flourish stamp, I created a frame. then coloured up a lovely background...using my Aquatints!

Then I used the matching stamp and die set and stamped and cut two sets of leaves and 3 large flowers...3 small flowers and 3 flower centres.

I then popped my leaves into place and using 3D glue gel I made my flowers STAND OUT! Lovely!!

now...ACORNS !! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these stamps!! these acorn and oak leaf stamps print out fantastically! the detail is superb!, so....what to create I thought...I loved the sentiment with this set and wanted to create my card around it, so using a single acorn that I die cut so I could pop onto some glue gel to make stand out I set to creating a lovely frame using the 3 oak leaf stamps and used a masking technique. I'm not sure the photo shows it properly, but once I was happy with my frame of leaves I cut out the centre and curled the centre leaves outwards. So once placed on top of the background it really looked effective! popped my little acorn in the centre and then I stamped and die cut and extra few leaves to 3D up on the front of the card.

my background was created using a gentle wash of Aquatints and the little acorn looks like its floating!

next up ....more juicy apples and a beautiful bird stamp!

so, first up created a frame with the apple stamps and a masking technique, and stamped the bucket of apples in the centre. I then covered everything up with Pebeo drawing gum, and painted my background with Aquatints and stamped the sentiment in place, rubbed out the gum and coloured up my juicy apples!

and now for my last DT sample... I could have gone on forever with this set...but here you go,

I created this scene using quite a few different stamps, the fields, tractor, scarecrow, grasses and willow herbs stamp were all separate stamp sets that I used to make into a scene. I stamped the scarecrow a couple of times so I could make him 3D and then I stamped and die cut the willow herb and layered up at the front.

so...there you go! I wanted to keep creating but I ran out of time, but I have so many ideas for this set, that I will be making more real soon!

So...tomorrow 3pm on Create and Craft, you can watch Sheena bring you this whole set! and there is more that's whats here! so get your tea and biscuits ready and pop your feet up and enjoy the show!

I hope you like my samples and thank you so much for taking the time to stop by!!!

Thursday, 8 January 2015

Good evening crafters!!! well what an exciting week we have for you!! This Monday the 12th of January showing on Create and craft at 3pm Sheena Douglass will be bringing you live from the CHA in California BRAND NEW stamps and dies!! woo hoo! Oh my days they are just totally amazing!!, I am an extremely lucky crafter at the moment to be joining the very talented Inkoids for a while and when I heard what was coming up I just couldn't wait to see! the day my parcel arrived with all these fabulous goodies was just like Christmas!! I had no idea what the range was going to be so you can just imagine my excitement when opening it up!

beautiful beautiful!! stamps and dies that work together just perfectly! and what makes them even more amazing is you don't need to use one with the other as the dies work simply fantastically on their own! I have so many ideas with this range, my mind went into a crafters EXPLOSION! seriously...where to start! so many options my mind just raced!, so ..I thought calm down Nic...take a deep breath your a tad excited here! so I started by stamping everything out quite roughly on to plain white copier paper and spread it all out in front of me so I could truly take in the whole range! look to see what stamp sets could go with another stamp set...how I could build up scenes etc, then I jotted down my design ideas and set to work...I havent even half got through what I had planned! it goes on forever, and if there was ever a complete stamp and die set i would say crafters had to have...it would be this one without a doubt!, so for now I will share just 3 samples I made 11 and each day I will share a couple more to lead us up into the launch day.

and heres my first one!

I created a beautiful muted background using my Aquatints, which I adore! you can check the range out on line just HERE! they blend together seemlessly giving the most amazing effortless backgrounds, I use a wash brush to create the background and chose the same paintbrushes Sheena uses which are Royal and Langnickel Crafters Choice brushes,

I then added a little distress ink to the edges for a little extra depth.

Then for this card I used the Tree stamp and the hanging bird house stamp, these are two seperate stamp sets the bird house I stamped twice and I think you can just see it is decoupaged which gives a lovely effect, then using one of the new die sets "Hedgerow corner" I cut a large and smaller corner piece to finish,

Onto the most adorable Squirrel stamp!

how irresistible is he!! so to start with I stamped him out and covered him up with Pebeo Drawing gum ...this stuff is amazing!!! you can pick it up on line just HERE! its truly fantastic! I've only recently discovered this stuff and its changed my crafting, I LOVE it, so once dry I set to creating my background, using my Aquatints and wash brush I created an Autumn pallet background then whilst still wet I sprinkled a fine sea salt over and left to dry, once dry I rubbed away the salt and then went over the edges with a distress ink pad, It gave a worn kind of leathery look to the paper which was great! I then distressed my edges inked a bit more and curled two opposite ends. Then using the Oak leaf and acorn stamps that BOTH have matching dies I created the corner embellishments, the photos don't really do these cards justice as these leaves once die cut and curled really look fantastic on your cards!

ok and last one for this evening...

even though this card may not be the most fancy....or have lots of embellishments and die cuts etc, I have to say it is my favourite. This card is quite a large long card that I created using a few different stamp sets, and by covering up my layers with drawing gum, I was able to add extra layers of hills to create my beautiful countryside view, I kept it all covered in drawing gum while I created my sky and clouds using the bleaching effect. once dry I simply rubbed the drawing Gum away and coloured my hills and fields, a simple fence in the fore ground that is cut using the matching die and a simple sentiment in the corner. Once I had finished this piece I just looked at it for soooo long, I loved it....simple but the stamps are so beautiful, I could really imagine myself standing right by that little fence looking out...silence...beautiful...is is sun set? or sunrise...I'm not sure but I do know I will definitely be creating this again and popping it on my wall in my craft room .

I do hope you have liked what I have created so far!! Please do check out the rest of the Design Team as they have come up with some beauties! .. I will be sharing more tomorrow!

As always thank you so much for stopping by it really does mean a lot and I would just love it if you left me a comment..

Monday, 5 January 2015

Hey crafters!!! BRAND new challenge has gone live over at Crafting Musketeers !!
now I thought I had blogged this a couple of days ago...mmmm seems blogger didn't publish! eeeek so I'm re doing now, oops!!
get out ya stash and come and join us this month!!

Once again we have a fabulous sponsor this time around in the ever so lovely Lacy Sunshine Digis !! and the prize will be some of the lovely digi stamps! perfect!! the theme is Hats or Valentines! The Design Team were all lucky enough to be sent some fabulous images to work with, and I had Matilda, very cue little image and even though...wearing a hat I chose to make her into a Valentines card, here you go....what do you think?

A simple CAS card with my image as main focus this month, so now it's YOUR turn... you know the drill but here's a reminder of our rules

1. One entry per person

2. your project must follow the theme

3.You must be a blog follower to win the prize

4.Please claim your prize within 7 days or the winner will be re drawn

5.We are happy for you to link our challenge with as many others as you wish to enter

6.You do not need to have a blog..simply enter over at our face book page just ...HERE!

once again I look forward to seeing all your creations this month so please do come and join us!!!!

Hi everyone!!! Well what a crazy few busy weeks its been!! so ...HAPPY NEW YEAR!! and I hope you all had a fabulous one!! it's been far too long since I last blogged but its been a whirlwind month! so new years resolution...BLOG more!

Tonight I'm sharing a lovely card I made a few weeks ago.

I was asked to make a special 30th wedding anniversary card, and all I was asked was pretty..include some pearls, didn't mind if cute etc, totally up to me! so straight away I headed for my Makey Bakey Mice every day Cd rom from Crafters Companion

that you can pick up just HERE! I TOTALLY adore these little mice! and just perfect for so many different occasions!

I decided on a large A4 pop open card that was made super duper easy using my BIG score from Crafters Companion. This is the first ever card I learnt to make way back when I started crafting. Sara demo's it in one of her CD roms that accompany the Ultimate Pro, I have made it so many times and truly love it! It definitely gives the wow factor for me once all decorated up and folds nice and flat.

As the 30th anniversary is traditionally pearls, I decided on a lovely Ivory linen card stock for my base, I love tone on tone cards and used the same card stock for all my die cuts too!

After looking through all the fabulous images I chose the cutest of cutest little mouse perched in a pretty poppy

I simply flipped the image to give me the matching right sided design and chose a lovely verse for the centre

then added some highlights of glitter, pearls and some die cut flourishes, bows and butterflies to decorate.

I was really pleased with the finished card, and have been told the recipient LOVED it FABULOUS!!
I hope you like it too and would love to know what you think!!
Thank you so much for stopping by!!!
Hugs
Nicole
xx

January 2015

Christmas Edition 2014

Crafters Inspiration 5

Crafters Inspiration 6

Crafters Inspiration 7

Crafters inspiration 8

Crafters Inspiration 9

Crafters Inspiration 10

Friends & Followers

About Me

hi my name is Nicole and welcome to my Blog!!I I have been married to the very patient John for 5 years and have 3 fabulous Children Lian , Kris & Jake 27, 24 and 22 and my most beautiful grandchildren Scarlett 2 and Rory 7 months. I have been a card maker now for almost 6 years, a hobby that soon took over my life...and home!! ( now you see why poor john has to be patient!) i am completely addicted and love it!! i have been very crafty all my life and loved to make things out of anything i could get my hands on , but mainly loved to draw and paint I was introduced to this lovely hobby by my cousin ( Thanks jo!!) and never looked back! i started out making cards for family and work colleagues, then a while back the most amazing thing in my crafty little adventure took place and i was am extremely proud to say that i joined my first design team La Pashe .. La Pashe!! i hear you scream?!?!.. YES La Pashe lol and so with a lot of advice from wonderful friends and a huge dolop of help from the amazingly talented Jak Heath... here is my Blog.. that was the start of my journey in craft ! I am now on the design team for Crafters Companion and Sheena Douglass and loving every second!!! I do hope you like my my little blog and will stay a while... would love to hear your comments so please stop for a crafty chat! Thank you for stopping by...and please come back soon xx